China's Social Credit System: You Can Be Banned From Buying Property Or Flying If You Buy Video Game

China has literally become something from a science fiction movie where the government has control over every single aspect of your life. But don't worry, they have a nice name for spying on every single Chinese citizen, it's called China's social credit system. This new system utilizes state-of-the-art artificial intelligence and surveillance cameras to track citizens every movement. Every action a person takes under this new system is rated by the social credit rating system.

Doing things like buying video games can get you blacklisted from flying, buying a home, or securing a loan. The system rates citizens on everything from jaywalking, to smoking on trains, and even buying too many video games. Some Chinese were asked how they felt about the new system but by their responses, it is clear they are afraid to state the true opinion for fear of retribution from the social credit system or the government. One woman said. "I think it's a good thing. It makes people more honest."

If a person's score becomes too low, they will not be allowed to do basic things such as buying plane tickets, renting a house or getting a loan. The new system has already barred nearly 15 million people from traveling a journalist named Liu Hu is among them. "I can't buy property, my child can't go to a private school," he said. "You feel you're being controlled by the list all the time." The people of China largely have wealthy Chinese technology firms such as Sense Time to thank for the new level of government intrusion. These firms are hard at work developing advanced cameras that use artificial intelligence to track everything they see and they can identify a person by their face with great accuracy.

An executive from SenseTime said, "We can tell whether it is an adult, a child, male or female." Even the police in Beijing have begun wearing special glasses that are capable of identifying a person in their field of view. Wu Fei is the CEO of the technology firm that creates the high-tech glasses and he says he has no idea how the government plans to use it. "I have no idea," Fei said. When asked if he trusts the government with the way they are using the technology he said, "Sorry, I can't answer this."